Fringe Review: Help!

Victoria Browne gives a thoughtful insight into mentall illness in her show Help!.

Help! is at Reading Fringe Festival. Photos supplied by Reading Fringe Festival team

Share

Get daily updates directly to your inbox

Thank you for subscribing!

Could not subscribe, try again laterInvalid Email

Help! by Jointventure Theatre

Saturday, July 19

Penta Hotel

Meet Victoria Emily Anne Browne.

She’s in her twenties, she has a supportive family, a partner who she loves and she needs help.

Last month Vicki had her last session with her mental illness worker Gail and was classified as mildly depressed and moderately anxious.

She thinks she’s going to be fine.

To make sure other people are going to be fine Vicki has devised a touching, warm and educational show explaining what it was like to fall apart and be put back together.

Vicki is open with her audience, involving them in her performance and asking them for help.

As someone who’s always had difficulty asking for help, who was taught to be like a rat and adapt and who has made sure she always seems to be in control, asking for help was a new experience for Vicki.

But after falling apart while food shopping and jumping into a bush she realised she needed the support of her family and friends.

Vicki’s performance demands audience participation, Not only is she honest with them, she expects them to be honest with her.

She asks if anyone has asked for help before, whether they would if they found themselves in her position and asks audience members what they want to know about her.

This isn’t a drama, it’s not comedy or entertainment. It’s real life and what happens when that becomes too much.

Vicki gives a thoughtful insight into mental illness and lets people know it’s okay to ask for help

Help! returns to Jelly at 4pm on Sunday. The Reading Fringe Festival runs until Sunday, July 20. Visit www.readingfringefestival.co.uk for the full programme.